University of Virginia Library

3.
CHAPTER III.

ABOUT half an hour had passed when the
youngest child began to cry and Akulina arose
to feed it. She had by this time ceased to weep,
and after feeding the infant she again fell into her
old position, with her face buried in her hands.

She was very pale, but this only increased her
beauty. After a time she raised her head, and
staring at the burning candle she began to
question herself as to why she had married,
and as to the reason that the Czar required so
many soldiers.

Presently she heard steps outside, and knew
that her husband was returning. She hurriedly
wiped away the last traces of her tears as she
arose to let him pass into the centre of the
room.

Polikey made his appearance with a look of

triumph on his face, threw his hat on the bed,
and hastily removed his coat; but not a word
did he utter.

Akulina, unable to restrain her impatience,
asked, "Well, what did she want with you?"

"Pshaw!" he replied, "it is very well known
that Polikushka is considered the worst man in
the village; but when it comes to business of
importance, who is selected then? Why, Poli-
kushka, of course."

"What kind of business?" Akulina timidly
inquired.

But Polikey was in no hurry to answer her
question. He lighted his pipe with a very
imposing air, and spit several times on the floor
before he replied.

Still retaining his pompous manner, he said,
"She has ordered me to go to a certain mer-
chant in the town and collect a considerable
sum of money."

"You to collect money?" questioned Aku-
lina.

Polikey only shook his head and smiled sig-
nificantly, saying:

"'You,' the mistress said to me, 'are a man
resting under a grave suspicion—a man who
is considered unsafe to trust in any capacity;
but I have faith in you, and will intrust you
with this important business of mine in prefer-
ence to any one else.'"

Polikey related all this in a loud voice, so
that his neighbor might hear what he had
to say.

"'You promised me to reform,' my noble
mistress said to me, 'and I will be the first to
show you how much faith I have in your prom-
ise. I want you to ride into town, and, going
to the principal merchant there, collect a sum
of money from him and bring it to me.' I said
to my mistress: 'Everything you order shall
be done. I will only too gladly obey your
slightest wish.' Then my mistress said: 'Do
you understand, Polikey, that your future lot
depends upon the faithful performance of this

duty I impose upon you?' I replied: 'Yes, I
understand everything, and feel that I will suc-
ceed in performing acceptably any task which
you may impose upon me. I have been accused
of every kind of evil deed that it is possible to
charge a man with, but I have never done any-
thing seriously wrong against you, your honor.'

In this way I talked to our mistress until I suc-
ceeded in convincing her that my repentance was
sincere, and she became greatly softened toward
me, saying, 'If you are successful I will give
you the first place at the court.'"

"And how much money are you to collect?"
inquired Akulina.

"Fifteen hundred rubles," carelessly answered
Polikey.

Akulina sadly shook her head as she asked,
"When are you to start?"

"She ordered me to leave here to-morrow,"

Polikey replied. 'Take any horse you please,'
she said. 'Come to the office, and I will see you
there and wish you God-speed on your journey.'"

"Glory to Thee, O Lord!" said Akulina, as
she arose and made the sign of the cross. "God,
I am sure, will bless you, Illitch," she added,
in a whisper, so that the people on the other
side of the partition could not hear what she
said, all the while holding on to his sleeve.

"Illitch," she cried at last, excitedly, "for God's
sake promise me that you will not touch a drop
of vodki. Take an oath before God, and kiss the
cross, so that I may be sure that you will not
break your promise!"

Polikey replied in most contemptuous tones:

"Do you think I will dare to touch vodki when
I shall have such a large sum of money in my
care?"

"Akulina, have a clean shirt ready for the
morning," were his parting words for the night.

So Polikey and his wife went to sleep in a
happy frame of mind and full of bright dreams
for the future.